Despite regional geopolitical and economic shifts, MENA-focused venture capital firm Plus VC is maintaining its investment pace, planning to deploy approximately $10 million into the region’s startups between 2026 and 2027. In a recent interview, Founder and Managing Partner Hasan Haidar revealed the fund’s strategy, its confidence in the ecosystem’s resilience, and its focus on backing strong founders over chasing industry trends.
Quick Facts
- Plans to deploy ~$10 million by 2027
- Targeting investments in 30 to 40 new startups
- Average check size of around $100,000
A Founder-First Strategy Targeting 40 New Deals
Plus VC aims to invest in 30 to 40 new companies over the next few years, having already backed four startups since the beginning of the year. The fund’s typical investment is around $100,000 per company, in exchange for an equity stake ranging from 3% to 10%, determined by the startup’s stage, business model, and growth potential.
Haidar emphasized that the fund’s selection criteria are not tied to specific sectors. Instead, the primary focus is on the quality and experience of the founding team.
“The founder’s experience, clarity of vision, and plans for expansion and profitability are at the forefront of the criteria we rely on when evaluating investment opportunities,” Haidar explained.
MENA Tech Shows Resilience
Addressing the current investment climate, Haidar noted that while some investors have become more cautious with new capital injections, the startup ecosystem itself has not seen a direct negative impact from geopolitical tensions. He observed that founders across the region remain passionate and focused on growth, with the fund receiving dozens of pitches from entrepreneurs each week.
Haidar also provided his assessment of the regional startup map, identifying the UAE as the top market for exporting new companies and ideas, followed by Egypt and then Saudi Arabia.
“Arab startups continue to grow despite geopolitical challenges,” he stated, highlighting the persistent drive within the ecosystem.
Betting on Emerging Ecosystems and Supporting the Portfolio
While acknowledging the dominance of the UAE, Egypt, and KSA, Haidar pointed out that Plus VC gives special attention to smaller, developing markets like Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait, believing they hold significant growth potential.
To date, the fund has supported 106 startups, with Haidar personally investing in over 300 companies. The firm also maintains a supportive stance with its existing portfolio, allocating smaller checks between $20,000 and $25,000 to help companies navigate temporary operational challenges and stay afloat.
Looking at the bigger picture, Haidar believes the Arab world is transitioning from being a technology consumer to an exporter, citing examples of local startups successfully selling their products in Western markets.
When asked about the current boom in artificial intelligence, Haidar expressed a degree of caution. “We are looking for real value. If strong opportunities arise for companies that rely on artificial intelligence and provide real solutions, we will certainly be interested in investing in them,” he said, clarifying that the fund prioritizes sustainable business models over buzzworthy trends.
About Plus VC
Plus VC is an early-stage seed fund for tech and tech-enabled startups across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and its diaspora. The firm focuses on backing strong founding teams and providing them with the initial capital needed to scale their operations.
Source: EntArabi
